Rusty '43s

I have several 1943 cents that are showing some rust (light to severe). I know the rust will continue to eat away the coins. Is there anything I can do to remove the rust and preserve the coins?

I love '43s and I would like to preserve them for future generations.

Thanks,
Sean

 

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Oooh...great question.

You know, I've never thought about this. I've got a bag of about 500 of these things that I won in a lot a couple of years ago. They could all use some kind of preservation.

I don't know of anything to remove the rust, short of some kind of acid, but I wouldn't recommend that.

As far as preventing further damage, I would think that some kind of oil compound would help, but I have never done this.

I'm really looking forward to a good answer on this one. Unfortunately, though, I would have thought that I'd have heard of something already if it existed.

 

Once the zinc coating is breached and the steel underneath has started to rust, that all for that coin (unless you just want a space filler).
When the rust is removed (and I don't know how to do that) you'll have a pitted coin.

The only thing I've ever seen done with them is to "reprocess" them.
Reprocessing is basically cleaning them of the rust and putting a new zinc coating on them.
If done correctly they come out looking proof-like.
Really nice looking, but obviously not original surfaces.

 

Put them in vinegar, and scrub. Do this only if you want the rust off, it'll be worthless afterwords.

 

Is there a way to remove the rust without devaluing the coin?

 

It's already devalued, whats done is done. Olive oil or mineral oil soak followed by acetone rinse may remove some of the looser particles, but I have never tried it. You can keep it from getting worse by storing in a proper environment w/dicatessant.

 

I've heard WD-40 may help, but can't confirm it.

 

I did read that some have soaked steel cents in motor oil to remove rust. I guess WD-40 would be similar. I'm not sure if it would work or what it would do to the coin.

 

Oxalic acid is a reducing agent ( found in Bar Keep Friend, naval jelly, blood cleanup kits) that will remove the rust ( but the damage will be there!!!) I think I saw it at Home depot or Lowes or similar place. It is dangerous so follow directions. Read Wikipedia or something similar for effects. Use very weak until you get the action you want. Never tried it on 43's.

Jim

 

Maybe I should conduct some experiments to see what works best with the least amount of additional damage. Hmm. . . I'm going to need more really rusty 43's.

 

Do I hear an educational post with before and after pics coming?

 

biox works well too.

 

electrolysis is another way...and it's completely safe, do a YouTube or google search.

 

Perhaps. If I can find the time for the research and experimentation and if I can get enough rusty cents to get reliable results.

 

But it will also strip off any zinc plating still present.

Frankly, they are already damaged and of minimal value so the price won't go down further, but the only thing you can realisticly do is to keep them from getting worse by storing them in a very dry environment.

 

pan frying them in olive oil and garlic would be better.

 

and the person doing the electrolysis on their kitchen table...

 

I have used this method several times. Whether you want a tutorial or not, here it is:

1. Get a 18 volt adapter and cut off the end of the cord (12 volt can be used as well, but it doesn't really work that great). Then split the wires and strip them.

2. Get some alligator clips and attach them to the wires. Put the coin on the negative end and a paper clip on the positive end.

3. Make a solution of water and Epsom salt and lemon juice (table salt will release chlorine gas) in a glass and place the coin and the paper clip in there.

4. Plug in the adapter and wait until the coin is how you want it to be.

5. Once you are done with the process, soak it in a baking soda solution.

If the paper clip starts bubbling vigorously, you have the positive/negative setup wrong. If you see a nasty brown blob forming at the top of the glass, that means it's working.

 

Yum...